CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor Gary Combs called the regular meeting of the Shalimar Town Commission to order at 6:01 p.m. in Town Hall chambers.  He led the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the Flag.

ROLL CALL FOR THE RECORD:

          Mayor Gary Combs :  present

          Mayor Pro-Tem Elaine Tucker:  present

          Commissioner John Henderson:  present

          Commissioner Kevin Reeves:  absent (out of town)

Others in attendance:  Town Manager Tom Burns, Lisa Spencer (Sitting in for Town Attorney Mike Chesser ), Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Dowda, Officer John Spohn, a resident Boy Scout from Troop 529, and Town residents Rik Larson (24 Old Ferry Road), Jerry McCallister (863 Brande Court), C. Ferdon (115 Clifford Drive), FD Burdette (119 Clifford Drive), Jeri Ghosh (902 Avalon Lane) and Steve Peterson from Shalimar Yacht Basin.

P&Z BOARD REVIEW:  There was no Planning and Zoning business to approve.

OLD BUSINESS:

I.       APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 11, 2002 BUDGET WORKSHOP I -- Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the minutes of the first budget workshop as written.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

II.      APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 11, 2002 TOWN COMMISSION MEETING -- Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the minutes of the Commission meeting as written.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

III.     APPROVE MINUTES OF JUNE 18, 2002 BUDGET WORKSHOP II -- Commissioner Tucker moved to approve the minutes of the second budget workshop as written.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

IV.     TOWN ATTORNEY REPORT – Attorney Lisa Spencer pointed out the Motion to Dismiss and Order to Dismiss for Lack of Prosecution for both Racetrac cases.  The Racetrac issue is finally closed.  Attorney Spencer also reported that there has been activity on the right turn lane issue.  Town Manager Tom Burns added that he spoke with Attorney Chesser today and the packet for Pate Weems of Herndon Oil will be sent as soon as possible.  Attorney Spencer stated that there was no other business to discuss.

 Commissioner Tucker reminded Attorney Spencer to ask Attorney Chesser to look into the police hiring reimbursement contract that was discussed at the last Commission meeting.  Attorney Spencer affirmed that she would check with Attorney Chesser on the progress of the research.

NEW BUSINESS:

I.       JERI GHOSH’S PRESENTATION – Town Resident, Jeri Ghosh, on behalf of the Junior League of the Emerald Coast , presented (Police) Commissioner Tucker with Certificates of Appreciation for Officers John Spohn, John Cash, Robert Nelson and Michael Miller.  The Junior League wanted to express their appreciation to the officers of the Town of Shalimar that helped with their fundraising by clocking tennis serves.

At 6:07 , after the presentation, Ms. Ghosh exited the meeting.

II.      TOWN RESIDENTS’ TIME – MAYOR COMBS – Steve Peterson from Shalimar Yacht Basin wanted to relay the planned changes for the lighting facing Snug Harbor .  Mr. Lars, who has been extensively e-mailing the mayor and planned on attending the Commission Meeting, was not present.  Mr. Peterson reported that he has already started working with Mr. Lars, had already redirected some lights and planned on making 2 more changes.  Commissioner Henderson remarked that he felt confident that Mr. Peterson would make the necessary changes.

III.     DISPOSITION OF TOWN CARS – Town Manager Tom Burns reported on town vehicles that may be sold:  The 1992 Chevy Caprice without the spotlight and the old maintenance truck.  The mayor discussed how many vehicles the town would be left with and decided that, with the new maintenance truck, there was no need for the town to have a staff car.  After some discussion, Commissioner Henderson moved that the Town of Shalimar sell/auction to the highest bid both of the town’s 1992 Chevy Caprices and the old maintenance truck.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

IV.     SWEAR IN NEW COMMISSIONER (THOMAS CALLEN) – Former Commissioner Thomas Callen was asked, via e-mail, if he had the time to return to the Town Commission.  Mr. Callen explained that he was still traveling on business but would be able to help out the town, if necessary.  Unfortunately Mr. Callen was out of town for both of June’s budget meetings and the June and July Commission Meetings.  Mayor Combs related that Jerry McCallister has volunteered to be the new Finance/Administration Commissioner.  The Commission agreed and Mayor Combs appointed and swore in town resident Jerry McCallister as the newly appointed Finance/Administration Commissioner.

V.       COMBINE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS – Manager Burns explained that the money for the Capital Improvement Projects is tentatively in the budget for FY03.  Mr. Klingele signed and returned his Clifford Drive easement agreement.  Commissioner Tucker felt that a signed agreement from Dr. Ferdon was necessary.  Dr. Ferdon spoke up from his seat to reiterate to the Town Commission that he doesn’t mind if the town has to encroach on his property in order to keep the swale as shallow as possible.  After a little discussion regarding replacing shrubbery and sod after the drainage project is complete, Commissioner Tucker moved that the Town of Shalimar proceed with the bid process for all of the capital improvement projects once the town receives the letter from Herndon Oil.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

MAYOR COMBS’ REPORT:

I.       OKALOOSA COUNTY LEAGUE OF CITIES REPORT – The normally scheduled League of Cities luncheon has been postponed until Thursday, July 16.  Mayor Combs explained the library cooperative letter and Laurel Hill’s refusal to sign it.  The Town of Shalimar has drafted 3 different letters and Mayor Combs will ask the League of Cities which of the 3 letters should be sent to Debbie Marrs, the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative Coordinator.

Mayor Combs asked if the PAWS letter was mailed.  Deputy Town Clerk Tina Smith relayed that it had been mailed.

COMMISSIONER TUCKER’S REPORT:

I.        FY02 BUDGET REPORT – Commissioner Tucker briefed that she would e-mail the monthly budget report for everyone’s review.

II.      HIRING AND FIRING PART-TIME EMPLOYEES – Commissioner Tucker related to the Commission that Officer Robert Nelson had resigned and that a new officer, Steve Shadwell, had already been interviewed.  Commissioner Henderson moved that any personnel decisions regarding the hiring and firing of part-time employees be at the discretion of the department head, the Town Manager and the department Commissioner.  If the 3 can’t make a majority decision, then the matter will go in front of the Town Commission.  Commissioner Tucker seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.  Commissioner Tucker stressed to Attorney Spencer how important the police department reimbursement contract was.  It was decided that Manager Burns would draft such an agreement and forward it to Attorney Spencer and Attorney Chesser.

COMMISSIONER REEVES’ REPORT:

Commissioner Reeves had no new business

COMMISSIONER HENDERSON’S REPORT:

I.       POKER RUN UPDATE – Mr. Peterson has volunteered Shalimar Yacht Basin as one stop of the charity Poker Run on August 17.  Mr. Peterson came to the Town Commission to ask if the town could help.  At the June Commission Meeting, Commissioner Henderson volunteered to oversee the effort.  The Town of Shalimar will add a flyer to the Summer Tidbits in order to get the word out to the residents and businesses.  Mayor Combs volunteered his boat to the Shalimar Yacht Basin for the Poker Run. 

Mayor Combs thanked Mr. Peterson for letting one of the Shalimar Police Officers borrow a wave runner during a chase last weekend but relayed that there was too much liability involved to ever allow it to happen again.

POLICE REPORT:

I.        MONTHLY ACTIVITY REPORT – The Monthly Activity Reports are in the Commission binders.  Commissioner Tucker mentioned that the chief was unavailable tonight because it is his birthday.

TOWN MANAGER UPDATE:

Manager Burns reported that the $200 limit that the town is presently using for inventory items had been changed by resolution to $500 back in 1995.  He also related that a $500 threshold on controlled inventory items had been recommended by the Town auditor.  Commissioner Tucker moved that the Town of Shalimar operate according to Resolution 95-01 from here on out.  Commissioner Henderson seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Mayor Combs warned everyone to be advised that there have been unreported boat break-ins on Gardner docks.  He also stressed the importance of reporting criminal activity to our Police Department. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Next Planning and Zoning Meeting – JULY 31, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. – There is a potential for a pool variance at the next Planning and Zoning Meeting.  The town is waiting for the resident to return to Town Hall with the necessary paperwork.

Next Commission Meeting – AUGUST 13, 2002 at 6:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT:  Commissioner Henderson moved to adjourn at 6:59 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Commissioner Tucker and it passed unanimously.